As you know the Washington Elementary school District has been moving towards a return to in person learning.  We thank all of you who took the opportunity to place your preference and then confirm or change that preference. 

As related in all of the WESD outdials, the measures in the WESD communities have remained in the yellow long enough that we are moving cautiously into a Hybrid Model, rather than a Full Traditional model. 

For those who responded that you would want to return to in person, that means your student will be joining us in person after the Fall Break in a Hybrid Model.  The Hybrid Model is designed to maintain safety for student and staff through several mitigating procedures. 

Mountain Sky return to In person Learning Video

Please watch this video for an explanation of the reopening procedures.  Included is information about

Safe practices ( the hybrid schedule, social distancing, face masks, cleaning procedures)

Arrival and dismissal

Restrooms

Lunch and Breakfast

and much more.  

1. Hybrid Schedules

Cutting the number of students in half by creating a group A and group B.  That means Group A would attend in person classes on Mondays and Thursdays.  Group B would attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays.  While not in school in person, students will be completing independent work for their classes.  On Wednesdays both groups would attend classes virtually.  We will be activating schedules in ParentVue and StudentVue. 

All students will be given a copy of their schedule in their Homeroom Advisory class when they arrive.  

Here is the list of all advisory classes by student ID number.  Advisory Class and Teacher Link

Yellow classrooms are Team 7B

Orange classrooms are Team 7A                                 Note: the A or B designation is part of the historical   

Green classrooms are Team 8A                                   team names, and not connected to the days of 

Purple classrooms are Team 7/8 C                              attendance. 

We have been given the A and B groupings from our district office based on several criteria, including keeping siblings on the same days even if they are in another WESD school.   

Group A

Students in Group A will attend in person classes Mondays and Thursdays starting October 19.  They will attend their advisory on online on Tuesday and Friday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before.

Group B

Students in Group B will attend in person classes Tuesdays and Fridays starting October 20.  They will attend their advisory on online on Monday and Thursday for their daily attendance and then complete work assigned by their teachers during the in person sessions the days before. 

All students will have a Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Elective.   Students will rotate among those classes in a five period day.  The classes were moved to be close in proximity, in order to limit movement about the building to areas and allow groups of student to reduce their exposure to other students. 

2. Important requirements for in person

While on campus all students will be required to wear proper fitting masks, maintain social distancing, and wash hands regularly.  We will be placing more information about our social distancing procedures on our website.

3.  COVID-19 Parental Acknowledgment – Disclosure

Before attending in person, parents must check ParentVue to read and acknowledge the in person procedures and policies.  If you have not acknowledged the 2020-21 Parent Student Handbook agreement, you must complete that first. 

4.  School hours

School will begin at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss at 4:00 p.m.   Gates and entrances will open after 8:30 a.m. Students will be screened at the perimeter (temperature check, questions regarding current health conditions – fever, cough, etc.).  Students, who have a 100.4 temperature or higher, or respond ‘yes’ to any of the screening questions, will be taken to a private room until a parent can come and pick up the student. 

5.  Transportation

For students riding the bus, WESD transportation services have sent letters to your address in our system.  They should arrive in the next day or two with bus stop times and locations. 

        Bus Stops and Times

6.  Arrival to school during the Hybrid Model

Please refer to the map below.  Students will be screened at five locations.  1. Bike Rack, 2. Bus Bay, 3. Front Gate, 4. Greenway drop off, and 5. Front office - for late arriving students only.   

7. Technology

In order to complete assignments during the independent workdays and the Wednesday virtual days, students will need to bring charged Chromebooks back and forth.  We ask that families make sure to provide a secure way for students to transport those items (for example a backpack).   

8. Water bottles

In order to mitigate exposure risks from touchpoints such as drinking fountain, students are asked to bring water bottles.   We have been directed to turn off drinking fountains.  We want students to stay hydrated. 

We very much look forward to seeing your student in person.  We wish we were able to do more in person prior to opening, but we will do our best to prepare you through information on this page of our website. 

9. Hybrid Times

As you look at the following schedule remember Mountain Sky is grouped into academic teams normally.  7A F.I.R.E., 7B S.T.A.R.S., 8A W.I.N.G.S., and 8B Talons.  Please do not confuse the team names with the A and B with days.  They are not related.   I order to accommodate many needs and distancing numbers, we created a fifth team, just for this time period.  That team is a combination of 7and 8 students.  We are calling them "C" team as they are in building C and it works with the previous A and B team names.   

This schedule is for both A and B days.  

On Wednesdays, the classes will all be on line.  Here is that schedule. Teachers will share with their students on Day A and B how to connect to those classes.  

For students who will be continuing with the extended learning model.  Teachers will be contacting you soon.  

These are the times for classes.  Students will not have 10 classes.  They will only have their four core classes with many gaps between to complete assignments.  

WESD continues to thank you for your patience during these very fluid times. We are human beings trying to work together and plan for uncertainties.  As we have stated in the past, WESD is taking our guidance from the federal, state and local health officials, the Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Main Points of this communication:

·         The Arizona Department of Health Services and Maricopa County Health Department benchmarks for In-Person Learning and the WESD’s current benchmarks;

·         The Purpose of this Communication;

·         The Descriptions of Learning Options; and

·         Selection of a Learning Model for your Student.

It is important that you complete your selection by September 18.  Please note, you may receive a call from your school’s staff if you have not responded by September 16.

ADHS and MCHS Benchmarks for In-Person Learning and the WESD Current Benchmarks

Beginning in August, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Health Department began sharing benchmarks related to the safe return to In-Person Instruction.  These benchmarks must be met for two consecutive weeks prior to considering any in-person instruction.  These benchmarks include:

ADHS and MCHS have defined three delivery models for districts to use as they return to in-person instruction:

Traditional –Benchmarks are green for two consecutive weeks, all students return to physical buildings

Hybrid – Benchmarks are yellow (note: percent positivity must be below 7%) for two consecutive weeks, some students are in the physical buildings and some students are online distance learning.

Virtual – Benchmarks are red for two consecutive weeks, all students are online distance learning.

Once the benchmarks are reached, families and the district will need some time to transition (childcare, bus routes, schedules, etc.).

Please click here to see the current WESD Benchmarks.

Purpose of this Communication

The purpose of this communication is to ask your family’s plan regarding returning to in-person instruction in the WESD.  If you have determined that you would like your family to remain in online distance learning for the semester or full year, we will need you to indicate this preference at the end of this communication. (Note: we will provide an opportunity to enroll again for the second semester closer to Winter Break).

If your family is ready to return to in-person learning when the benchmarks indicate to do so, we are asking for your feedback as to when you wish your child/children to return to in-person instruction. There are two options for in-person instruction:

·         Hybrid Learning - Some students in physical buildings and some students online distance learning

·         Traditional Learning - All students in physical buildings

Descriptions of Learning Options

Online Distance Learning (Red with PCR above 10% for two consecutive weeks)

The online distance learning model will consist of “live” real-time instruction (all five days) at designated times during the day with WESD curriculum resources. WESD teachers with instruction in core content and specials/electives will teach the lessons. Accommodations and support services will be provided. This is the model we are currently in.

Students choosing this learning model will most likely be assigned a different teacher due to the number of students choosing this option, staffing, credentials and other factors.

Hybrid A/B Learning (Yellow with PCR below 7% for two consecutive weeks)

During the Hybrid A/B period of time, parents who choose the hybrid model will have two full days of in-person learning, two days of self-paced, independent work at home and Wednesday early release day of live sessions online with a teacher. Transportation will be provided for students who qualify for transportation. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

During the two days of in-person learning, students will participate in typical classroom learning. Staff will use district curriculum and resources.

Students in this model may be assigned a different teacher due to staffing, class sizes and other factors. Wednesday will continue to be an early release day.

Safety protocols during the Hybrid A/B Model

The district will follow the Maricopa County Department of Public Health guidelines including:

·         Required face coverings (students and staff) Note: Face coverings must meet dress code

·         Daily temperature checks (students and staff)

·         Frequent handwashing/hand sanitizing

·         Enhanced cleaning of high touch point areas throughout the day

·         Enhanced ventilation with increased outside air intake

·         Physical Distancing

·         Students will stay in cohorts

·         One way traffic patterns in hallways

·         Student belongings will be separated from others

·         Drop-off and pickup routines will be modified to facilitate social distancing

Traditional Learning (Green with PCR below 5% for two consecutive weeks)

WESD students return to five days of instruction with all students on campus.  Schools will be in session for regular school hours. Transportation bus schedules will be in effect and breakfast and lunch will be served. Essential safety protocols will be followed including frequent hand washing/hand sanitizing, enhanced cleaning of high touch point areas throughout the day and ventilation with increased outside air intake.  At the time of this communication, the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-51 and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors have a mandatory face-covering requirement in place.

Students in this model most likely will have their current teacher. Wednesday will continue to be an early release day.

We will use safety protocols, benchmarks, survey results, staffing and other factors to make a decision on our in-person learning model which will either be the Hybrid A/B Model or waiting until the metrics indicate a Traditional Model.

Day 1 and Day 2 Schedules

Another way to limit time online is through a two day rotation.  Math and Language Arts will continue to meet every day, while other classes will alternate between days one and two.  This means students will not necessarily have Social Studies and Science meetings every day.  Again, this is designed to lower the average time a student needs to be in front of their computer.  On Wednesdays, all classes will meet in shorter whole groups. 

The Virtual School Day

• Each day will begin with all students logging into Advisory (zero period on their schedules) at 8:55 am.  There will be The Pledge, announcements and Social Emotional Lessons created by the WESD social services department.  These research-based lessons will reconnect students in this challenging time. 
• After Advisory, students will begin logging into their Core and Elective classes as assigned to them on their schedule.  We will have schedules posted on ParentVue and StudentVue.  As explained above, Students will attend odd number periods one day and even number periods the next.  Math and Language Arts will be both days. 
• A lunch break will be provided from 12:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. for both 7^th and 8^th grade students daily. 
• Office hours and universal interventions will begin after 7^th or 8^th periods at 3:30 p.m. daily. 
• All online activity will end by 4:00 p.m.